Senior Fitness: The Secret to Healthy Aging

By Victor R. Martinez

EL PASO, Texas --  You may be over 50, but that doesn't mean that you can't be as healthy as you were at 20. There are millions of seniors across America who have embraced senior exercise and achieved a level of senior fitness that we've never seen in previous generations. These inspiring people can teach us all a thing or two about healthy aging.

Ignacio Cano is one of them. He runs between 20 to 25 miles a week and works out three or four days in the gym.

He has participated in more than 170 races including the Racefor the Cure and the TransMountain Challenge 20K Run.

Cano doesn't run just recreationally; he runs to win, and he does it well. A roomful of medals is a testament to his success.

By the way, Cano is 78 years old and didn't start running until he was 66.

From the Los Angeles Marathon to road races in Chihuahua City, Texas, Cano has worn out a lot of running shoes.

"After working all my life, I retired and I had nothing to do," Cano said. "Sitting home not doing anything made me go crazy. I worked around the house, but you can only do so much, so I took up running and it's been very, very good for me."

Cano, who has participated in the El Paso Senior Games for the past 10 years, will be inducted into the Senior Games Hall of Fame in April, along with Irene Araiza.

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